Latch-controlling mechanism



H. LEWIS AND C. H. PETTEY.

LATCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM.-

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1920.

Patented Jan. .31, 1922.

. E TOR. 761 .5 LEWIJ CJ-iPE 77E) BY g g q M ATTORNEYS.

- trolling mechanism UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY LEWIS AND CLYDE H. PETTEY, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

LATCH-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

i To all whom it may conccm Be it known that we, HARRY Lnwls and CLYDEH. Pn'rrnr, citizens of the United States, and residents of Sioux City,in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Latch-Controlling Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification.

A duty of merchant police and night watchmen is to try the doors, atregular intervals, of the establishments under their protection toascertain if the doors are locked. This is a duty which is very easilyand often shirked.

Many devices have been presented and used with varying success forchecking the 'watchmens calls, but no means, as far as we are aware, hasever been divised which indicates in any way whether or not the doorshave been tried. 2

Our present invention, therefore, has for itsprimary object theproduction of a mech-' amsm by which the watchman registers his call andthe operation of which requires, first, trying the door to determinewhether or not it is unlocked.

- -Furthermore, the invention contemplates acombination door-latch andregister consimple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, yetdependable and thoroughly eflicient in operation. The above and otherobjects and advantages we successfully attain in the embodimentshereinafter described, more. particularly defined in the claims andillus trated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of thisapplication and in which like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, of which:

Fig; 1 is an elevation, partly in sect1on,

of a device constructed in accordance with our invention, and as appliedto a swinging closure.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the same, showingthe stop latch, and Fig. 4: is an enlarged perspective view of thestop-latch. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the device partly in section asap- Specification 0f Letters'Patent. Patented Jan, 31, 1922, Applicationfiled June 7, 1920. Serial No. 387,247. I

would not be limited to such specific structures, for it will be clear,as the description. progresses, that the broad principle of theinvention may be associated with divers other types of latch controllinginembers, and many modifications and alterations may be made in thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

1 and 2, 4 represents a door mounted to swing inwardly and provided witha familiar form of lock, 5, including a latchbolt, 6, and a lock-bolt 7.The latch-bolt is controlled by the usual rotating stem, 8,

--mount a clock casing, 13, enclosing a suitable clock train (not shown)and an hour spindle, 14, carrying a disc, 15, which, it will beunderstood, makes a complete revolution daily, weekly, or in any otherinterval chosen by the manufacturer.

Against the disc, 15, is placed coaxially a second disc, 16, ofpenetrable material and held removably in place by a washer, 17, and anut, 18, threaded on the hour spindle, 1 1. The disc, 16, ispreferablyprovided with graduations, 19, or other characters,

dividing the said disc into units or intervals of time. The wall, 10, ofthe casing may be provided with a door, 2O, to afford access to theinterior for the application and re moval of the discs, 16, to and fromthe clock. I

On the wall 10, is mounted an inwardly extending bracket, 21, havingdepending parts, 22, through which reciprocates a horizontal plunger,23, having pointed end, 24, to penetrate the disc, 16, the disc, 15,being provided with an annular groove, 25, to permit such penetration.The plunger, 23, is held yieldably from the disc by means of acompression spring, 26, interposed between one of the members, 22, and astop, 27, carried by the plunger.

The stem, 8, is mounted as usual, to be rotated a determinate distanceto withdraw the latch bolt from its keeper, but is also B arranged toVmove longitudinally through the lock. The stem,8, isflat-sided, asusual,

and projects through the wall, 10, of the casing, and enters the shank,28, of'the inner door-knob, 29, the said shank having a flat-sidedinterior to slidably receive the stem, but prevent relative rotationbetween "the knob and stem, the knob being rotatably supported, as at30, on the wall, 10. The outer knob, 31, is fixed to the stem as usual,

and betwen the shank, 32 thereof and the door is interposeda compressionspring, 33,

which holds the stem, normally, yieldably outward; V

WVithin the having a key-hole slot, 35, through the larger portion ofwhich passes the stem, 8,the' said plate being supported in. spacedrelation to the wall, 9, by laterally bent end portlons, 36, suitablysecured to the said wall.

Between the wall, 9, and plate, at, the stem is providedwith a tappet ora lateral lug 37, adapted to pass through the smaller portion of theslot, 35', by forcing the stem longitudinally, after it has rotatedptowithdraw the latch bolt from its keeper and align the lug with the saidsmaller portion of the slot, 35.

On one side wall, 11, of the casing is mounted a suitable bearing, 38,on which is fulcrumed, as at 39, a lever,-40, one-end of which isbifurcated to receive the olun 'er 23, and engage the cross-pin, 41,inthe plunger. The opposite end ofthe' said lever is aligned with thesmaller portion of the slot, 35, for. engagement by the lug, 37.

77 By virtue of the construction now dis; closed, 1t is clear that awatchman first rotates the stem in a direction which will unlatch thedoor,then forces inwardly on the door-knob whereupon the lug, 37, coactsI Y with the lever, 40, and this with plunger, ;23, to register the callon 'the disc, 16, but

should the door he unloclre'd 'in other words, should the lock-bolt, 7,not be engaged in its keeper, an attempt to force the V stem inwardlywill open the door.

' On oppositesidcs of thena rrowerportion of the slot,35, a'r'e providedguide members,

43, which prevent rotation of the stem after V the lug, 37, has beenforced into engagement withthe'levers Obviously, when the pres- V sureis removed from the knob, 3 1,the

I spring, 33, "retracts the stem, andsubse- 'quently the usuallatch-spring (not shown) restores the'stem and latch bolt to theirnormal'positions. Y 1 a r -As it is not desiredto have the device op-erate during the day or, perhaps, other times, we haveprovide'dmeansfor renderingthe register inoperable, which may conof 'a latch-plate,45, mou nted on the in- -"tfer1or'of the wall,"10, to slide transversely"of the-"stem, and having a"keyhole'slot,46,

through which the stein passes and through casing is a guide plate, 34,

the larger portion of. which it is free to reclprocate. The stemlsp'rovided with an annular groove, 17, which is allgned with the plate,45, normally, andwhen the plate is so, slid that the grooved portion ofthe same is disposed within the narrower per- .tion of the slot, 46,obviously,longitudinal movement of the same is prevented.

The plate is provided with an operating lug, 4-8, projecting through aslot, 49', 111: the wall, 10. V 7 4 The embodiment presented in F 5',designed for doors which swing outwardly,

differs from the previously described form in that the stem isheldyieldablyinwardly as by a compression spring, 50, interposed between thewall, 9, and a suitable stop, 51,

on the stem. The guide member,34, is po- Y sitioned on the wall, 10, andin spaced-relaa tion to the latch plate, 45, the lug, 3?, being disposedbetween the said plates. The-plunger, 23, carries a fixed, dependingarm, 52, positioned for engagement. by thelug, 37, and between which andone of the members, 22, is interposed a.compression]spring,;;26,whichserves to retract the plunger! 'In this form thewatchman, inrotating itheastem' Having thus describedour invention',-what we claimas new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is) 1';Y

1; In adeviceiof the lclasse described a latch-bolt,registeringmechanism, andmeans movable to :one' 'p0Slt1OI1-*,t,()' unlatchathe'latch-bolt, and,zsubsequently,; to another H v positionto operatepsaidmechanism. a

2, In adevice of' theclassadescribedftt V latch-bolt,registeringmechanism and means movable in. one direction :to unlatcl the latch-boltand subsequentlyrg in another direction to operate said mechanismin,

VA registering: device for aclosure movable to opened and. closed-.positionsyincludinga suitable support adapted .to bemounted on theclosure, a latch-bolt for releasably preventing opening oftheCl0SLlI'6,f-1glS- tering mechanism, and means for-releasing the latchbolt and movable inlthe general direction the closure movesto open to 0pcrate said mechanism, whereby th'e'closure,

if unobstructed, will be opened whenksaid means-1s moved in thed1rect1on to operate said mechanism. 7

4. A registering device. .fon-ia'.closiure, movable to opened and;closed positions, including a suitable: support adapted-e i'to'sbe''mounted on thenclosure, allatolrgboltufor' releasably preventingopening of the closure, registering mechanism and means movable in adirection. different from that in which the closure moves to open torelease the latch-bolt, and movable in the general direction the.closure moves to open to operate said mechanism, whereby the closure, ifunobstructed, wvill be opened when said means is moved .in the directionto operate said mechanism. 7 5. A registering device forfa "closure,movable to opened and closed positions, including asuitable'supportadapted to be mounted on the closure, a latch-bolt for releasablypreventing opening of the closure,

registering mechanism and means movable in a direction different fromthat in which the closure moves to open to release the latch-bolt, andsubsequently movable in the general direction the closure moves to opento operate said mechanism, whereby the closure, if unobstructed, will beopened when said means is moved in the direction to operate saidmechanism. 7

6. A registering device for a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, including a suitable support adapted to be mounted on theclosure, a latch-bolt for releasably preventing opening of the closure,registering mechanism, and a member rotatable to release the latch-boltand movable longitudinally after releasing the latch-bolt and in thedirection the closure opens, to

operate said mechanism, whereby the closure, if unobstructed, will beopened when said member is moved in the direction to operate saidmechanism.

7. A registering device for a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, including a suitable support adapted to be mounted on theclosure, a latch-bolt for releasably preventing opening of the closure,

registering mechanism, and a member rotatable to release the latch-boltand movable after releasing the latch-bolt in the general direction theclosure moves to open to operate said mechanism, whereby the closurewill be opened, if unobstructed, when said member is moved in thedirection to operate said mechanism.

8. A registering device for a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, including a suitable support adapted to be mounted on theclosure, a latch-bolt for releasably preventing opening of the closure,registering mechanism, and a member rotatable a distance in onedirection to release the latchbolt, and after releasing the latch-boltyieldable longitudinally to operate said mechanism, whereby the closure,if unobstructed, will be opened when said member is movedlongitudinally.

9. A registering lock for a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, including a casing adapted to be carried by the closure, alock-bolt carried by the casing adapted to be extended .to preventopening of the closure, a latch-bolt carried by the casing to releasablyprevent openingof the closure, registering mechanism, .andmeansoperabletorelease the latch-bolt, and subsequently movable in thedirection the closure moves toopen, to ,actuatesaid, mechanism wherebythe closure will be opened if the lock-bolt isnot extended. r i f 10. Aregistering lock fora closure, movable to opened and closed positions,including a casing adapted tobe carried, by the closure,-- a lock-bolt,carried by the. casing adapted to be extended to prevent opening oftheclosure, a latch-bolt; carried by: the casinga-to releasablypreventopening of the closure, registering mechanism, and operatingmeans for the closure including means for releasing the latch-bolt andmeans movable in the direction the closure opens, to operate saidmechanism, whereby the closure will be opened if the lock-bolt is notextended.

11. A registering lock for a swinging closure, including a casingadapted to be socured to the closure, a lock-bolt carried by the casingadapted to be extended to prevent swinging of the closure, a latch-boltcarried by the casing to releasably prevent swinging of the closure,registering mechanism, and means operable to release the latch-bolt andsu sequently movable in the direction the 010- sure swings open, toactuate said mechanism,

whereby the closure will be swung open if cured to the closure, alatch-bolt carried by I the casing to releasably prevent swinging of theclosure, registering mechanism and means operable to release thelatch-bolt and subsequently actuate said mechanism and swing the closureopen.

13. The combination with a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, of a latch embodying a retractable latch-bolt normallyextended to prevent opening of the closure, and registering mechanismoperating means for retracting the latch-bolt and subsequently actuatingsaid mechanism and swinging the closure open.

14. The combination with a closure movable to opened and closedpositions, of a latchembodying a retractable latch-bolt nor mallyextended to prevent opening of the closure, and registering mechanismoperating means for retracting the latch-bolt and subsequently actuatingsaid mechanism and swinging the closure open, and a detent coacting withsaid means to releasably prevent actuation of said mechanism.

15. The combination with a swinging closure, of a lock secured to theclosure embodying a lock-bolt adapted to be extended to prevent swingingthe closure open, a

rla't oh holt relelasatbly -"pretenting swingingv the Closure open; aregistering mechanism mnc'l niesinsf' mov ble to release the latch-boltand, subsequentl :ziotuz t'e' said- 'niechanism and. Swing the cosurefopen when the look-' ,boltisnotektended; L

ld't'hbolt; and subsequently in another direetion' to actuate saidmechanism and'swing el'osure open the 10ok-bb1t is' not extended;

" 17. The combination with a swinging olosure and a lock thereon,including an extensible look-bolt and a latch-bolt for releasablypreventing swinging of the closure, of registering mechanism anclacontrolling stem rotatable torelease the latch-bolt and subsequentlymovable longitudinally in the direction the closureIsWings open, toactuate said 1 mechanism, whereby. the. closure 'Will be opened if thelock-bolt is not extended.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our'hands this 24th dayofMay, 1920.

HARRY'LEWIS. -OLYDE H. PETTEY;

